State Police again search Amanda Warf's ex-husband's property: Joined by state fire marshal's office

Tuesday

Mar 12, 2013 at 3:15 AMMar 12, 2013 at 2:55 PM

By JIM HADDADIN

EPPING — Four days after the body of Amanda Warf was discovered inside a burning building, the state police homicide unit returned to the home of Warf's ex-husband on Monday, gathering evidence, but remaining silent about the investigation.

Members of the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit and authorities from the state fire marshal's office were on site at 67 Railroad Ave. in Epping throughout the day Monday.

The home is owned by Warf's former husband of seven years, Aaron Desjardins. Police began searching the property on Sunday and returned Monday.

While investigators have not commented on their activity, Desjardins told Foster's he is complying with the murder investigation into Warf's death in hopes of clearing his name. He strongly denies any involvement, and points out his ex-wife was rearing the couple's young son.

On Thursday, March 7, Exeter firefighters found Warf's body inside the second floor of an abandoned concrete plant. The building caught fire shortly before 7 a.m.

The state's chief medical examiner ruled the death a homicide following an autopsy Friday morning. Police have not released Warf's cause of death.

It was more than one year ago that Warf and Desjardins separated. Court records show the pair were still negotiating the terms of a parental agreement for their now 11-month-old son at the time of Warf's death. While they disputed some points, the parents were moving toward a resolution, according to a court official and one of the attorneys involved in the case.

Desjardins and Warf were married on June 12, 2004, according to court records, and their divorce was finalized in February 2012.

Warf was pregnant with the couple's son when they separated, according to court records. Desjardins told Foster's his ex-wife began living in Hampton with a new boyfriend, whom she met online while playing the role playing game World of Warcraft. He said the boyfriend moved from California to New Hampshire in October 2011.

Desjardins was represented in the parental case by attorney Timothy Coughlin, of Coughlin, Rainboth, Murphy & Lown in Portsmouth.

According to the terms of their divorce agreement, Aaron Desjardins was awarded the home at 67 Railroad Ave. in Epping. He was scheduled to refinance the mortgage to free Warf's name by 2017.

Under the terms of their divorce decree, Aaron Desjardins was awarded ownership of a 1993 Honda Civic, and Amanda Desjardins was to receive a 2002 Hyundai.

In a proposed order on the motion to modify the divorce decree, Desjardins' attorney wrote that at the time of their divorce, the couple had no equity in their home. By agreeing to become the owner, Desjardins “took on a large financial burden” to protect both from a foreclosure or bankruptcy.

William Edward Warf, the couple's child, was born April 15, 2012. The couple had been divorced two months earlier.

After a paternity test confirmed that Desjardins was the father, Amanda Warf filed seeking child support payments in July 2012, according to court records. In addition, Aaron Desjardins filed a motion on Nov. 1, 2012, asking for the name of the child to be changed from William Warf to a version that included his own last name.

The couple had a temporary parenting plan in place at the time of Warf's death, according to Coughlin.

“We had a temporary plan in effect, and we were in the process of just sort of crystallizing that agreement — finishing it up,” Coughlin said. A final hearing on the parenting plan was scheduled for May 15.

Asked if the pair had a contentious relationship, Coughlin said it was not “toxic,” violent or aggressive.

“If I were to predict something like this would happen in one of my cases, it wouldn't be this one,” he said.

One of the final matters in the parenting case was a scheduling conference order issued Jan. 31, 2013, relating to the parenting plan. The order notes that the parties were “working with a counselor to address parenting issues,” and they had “had success in that forum.” The likelihood of a settlement was said to be “fair to good.”

In November, the court issued a temporary order and scheduling order regarding the parenting issues. The parties were said to be in counseling together, and making progress. One of the only major issues left regarding the parenting plan was whether Aaron Desjardins' current wife, Sarah, should accompany him to pick up the child.

“The parties acknowledge that there is a tension between Ms. Warf and Mr. Desjardins' current wife,” the document states. The court ruled that Sarah was to remain in the car and have no communication with Warf during the exchanges.

Desjardins said he was in his home last Thursday morning when Warf's body was found. The 36-year-old said he invited police to investigate his home, and also handed over his cell phone, handgun and pickup truck to the State Police.

A State Police trooper at the scene on Monday declined to answer questions about the search at the property. Senior Assistant Attorney General Susan Morrell also declined to provide an update on the case. Morrell said she cannot comment on whether police have identified any suspects, or on whether the search in Epping is associated with the murder case.

According to court documents, Warf's last known address was a home on Cedar Road in North Hampton. A family member there declined to comment about the circumstances Monday.